Internet Desk: Virat Kohli may have batted India out of jail in the first test match against England at Rajkot but the performance from the home side left a lot to be desired. Top among the list is the failure of opener Gautam Gambhir. The situation is such that the Kolkata Knight Riders captain may be sent to cricketing hibernation. Gambhir, who was on a comeback trail has been a huge disappointment. The left hander could make way for KL Rahul who scored a brilliant 76 runs, after coming back from an injury in Ranji Trophy Group B clash against Rajasthan.
According to sources in the team management if Rahul can prove his match fitness, then he may get the nod ahead of Gambhir. Although the current squad was announced for the first two Tests, there is a chance that selectors and team management could go for a 16th member in the squad and should that 16th member be Rahul, it could spell doom for Gambhir.
Gambhir did nothing so far to retain his place in the squad. The left hander has failed in both innings against England scoring 29 and 0 respectively. His open-chested stance has also been debated by former cricketers, making him a candidate for LBW decisions. Gambhir’s scores since his international comeback last month have been 29, 50, 29, 0.
Rahul, who is now playing in Vizianagram, which is an hour’s drive from Vizag may get an SOS from the team management should they decide on axing Gambhir.
Former cricketers Gundappa Vishwanath, Ajit Wadekar and Roger Binny feel Gautam Gambhir should immediately make way for KL Rahul.
According to former selector Roger Binny, “The decision to bring back Gambhir was absolutely wrong as it meant looking back. Gambhir at his age (35 years old) should not have been preferred over other young openers in the country.”
He further added, “We have all witnessed young Haseeb Hameed doing well for England in his debut test at Rajkot. So, why not give someone else the opportunity when your regular openers Dhawan and Rahul are injured. Even Rahane could have opened the batting for India.”
Legendary batsman and former slection committee chairman Gundappa Vishwanth too feels Rahul is the best choice as opener at the moment. According to Vishy, “For me the best opening batsman at the moment is KL Rahul and not Gambhir.Rahul is also playing the Ranji Trophy match to prove his fitness and has done well so far. I feel the selectors should immediately draft him in the test side.”
He further added, “I think he (Gambhir) is trying a little too hard to score runs. But he will take time to score runs with the new stance. The way England has played; I think the selectors should not waste any time experimenting with Gambhir.”
Former selection committee chairman Ajit Wadekar however did not sound too harsh on Gambhir. “I think he is under tremendous pressure to score runs. The team management should give him confidence.I think he still has a lot to offer for Indian cricket. I feel he is a much better batsman than Shikhar Dhawan. But if Rahul is picked as an opener for second test then he is automatically the best option opening the innings with Murali Vijay,” added Wadekar.
The second Test starts on November 17.